1A/N: For my own enjoyment I changed the way the rank system works for the Earth Federation. Instead of one rank system for the whole Army, each nation in the Earth Federation keeps the rank structure of its nations Army. In the case of this act, the rank system of the British Army is used. Also, in this act are Earth Federation characters from the manga Lost War Chronicles, the video game Zeonic Front and the anime MS IGLOO The Gravity Front. There ranks have been changed to the British Army equivalent. And the Federation uniforms worn are the ones worn in The 08th MS Team.

Airfield No. 3

Northern Egypt

October 10th, 2016. 10:32am

Never in a million years did I think I would be sent to the Federation's North African Front in the cargo hold of a C-130. I had enough of the desert back in the Southwest right after my transfer to the 18th, means these next few months are going to suck. My biomechanical arm is wrapped up in black cloth to keep the sand out (the sleeves on the uniform short) and gloved. Since the Council meeting me and the unit have been transferred to the Federation's 8th Army, specifically the 7th Armored Division, whose primary mission is to stop the Empire's advance into Egypt, which has been going very bad.

The Empire has swallowed half of Egypt's landmass and is making a bid for the Suez Canal and the Middle Eastern oilfields; the Federation has stopped the Empire's advance at sixty miles from Alexandria at a place called El Alamein. Our Navy ranks being traded in for Army ranks, which we don't have yet. They will be handed out by our new superior officer. But we did get new Federation uniforms, the unimpressive ones without all the red details and gold trim. These are grey with black on the front and back shoulder area

So far the Federation has kept the 2nd Desert Army Group at bay, stopping their advance east of the village El Alamein and keeping an eye on them. The baby sitting is done, that's why we're being sent here: we have a certain skill in breaking through large army fronts. However we're not being sent to El Alamein, our destination is thirty five miles south at the tail end of the Front.

"I can tell this is going to suck Lowe. It's October and I'm already sweating."

"Yeah Andy, it's going to suck, but what can you do? We have semi- cool cloths and won't get head stroke. Look alive, we're landing."

From the tiny window I could see that the Federation was gearing up for a big assault: men, munitions and mobile suits were being moved to and fro with frantic speed, getting ready for the coming storm. When the transport came to a stop and the hatch opened, we departed the plane. Two things met us when we exited, the brutal desert sun and a tall, imposing British officer built like an Oxford track star. He walked up and we saluted, then he introduced himself in a North England accent.

"The White Knight himself! Welcome to Egypt! Sorry about the location, I see you took measures to keep the sand off your arm"

"General. Miles Whitestone, I have heard many stories about sir. Yeah, had to do the something in the American Southwest."

"Walk with me, let us talk. When High Command informed me that I would be getting the entire 13th MS Team, I could not believe it was true. You and your men came just in time. We have been retreating for far too long, being chased by the Empire. It has cost us several of our officers, most from the 3rd Armored Calvary, a unit you now command my friend. Your rank had been changed to Lieutenant Colonel."

Was not expecting that. "Thank you General, but doesn't a Colonel usually command a regiment?"

"Yes, but the 3rd Armored Calvary isn't a regiment, it's a large company made up of 350 pilots. And they are the only mobile suit unit in the 8th Army so the designation is fair."

Only 350 MS pilots in a whole Army? Shit they do need our help. "The new ranks, same goes for my team?

"They too are receiving temporary battlefield commissions about the same as their old ones, with the exception of your enlisted men. I have the proper rank insignias in the HQ. If you will, can you sent them to the unit's HQ? It is about half a kilometer that way."

"Of course. You heard him."

They saluted and walked off the HQ, a cinder block building. "Where are we going?"

"To the Army HQ. You may be a Lieutenant Colonel, but your unit is not a normal one. Follow me."

We trekked about twenty yards to another cinder block building, this one much bigger that the one I will be using. I followed him into the HQ, and it was just how I imagined a British command center in the desert would look like: all the windows open, a tea kettle on the stove and various maps and books littering the table. With the reading material was a bottle of brandy and empty shot glasses.

"Lieutenant Colonel, I introduce you to the six generals of the 8th Army: Lieutenant General Alexander Smith of the Seventh Corps and his subordinates, Major General Simon Beckwith of the 83rd Infantry Division and Major General Ian Summers of the 27th Infantry Division. Next is Lieutenant General Nicholas Peterson of the Ninth Armored Corps and his subordinates Major General Walter Andrews of the 49th Mechanized Infantry Division, Major General Damon Walker of the 11th Infantry Division and Major General Jeremy Townsend of the 7th Armored Division."

We all saluted and shook hands, mine being close to numbness due to all the handshakes. General Whitestone poured me a brandy before starting the meeting. I drank it and felt a whole hell of a less nervous. He again spoke to me.

"Lieutenant Colonel, as I said you are in command of the only mobile suit unit in the 8th Army, and a regular odd one at that. The 3rd Armored Calvary, more commonly known "The Cav", is composed entirely of Michiganders, as you that from the state are called."

That was very unexpected. "How is that possible General? How did 350 Americans end up in the Earth Federation Army?"

"Well Lieutenant Colonel, when your state was subjugated by the Empire, it seems that a whole company of men and women belonging to the Michigan National Guard escaped Fort Grayling before it was overtaken. They made their way to Federation territory, England, and they all joined our forces. They named the unit in honor of a rather famous Michigan native, George Custer; they took the name of his Civil War cavalry division, the 3rd Calvary. Of course we didn't know at the time that the unit was full of hooligans and trouble makers whose use in the battlefield is limited to the role of cannon fodder."

"Is that how feel about them Sir? Cannon fodder?"

"Good heavens no Lieutenant Colonel, that is what I was told by High Command when they arrived here six months ago. I find them very useful, but they could do with a strong leader such as yourself, a fellow Michigan native. The 3rd is a separate unit within the Army, but you report to and will be overseen by General Townsend

"Fair enough General." I said. "Are the remaining officers troublemakers too?"

"I should hope not Lieutenant Colonel, because before we got you and your men we only had two left."

Yeah they need the help if there's only two left.

"Gentlemen last night I received confirmation from General. Revil to commence Operation Lightfoot on October 24th."

Operation Lightfoot is the Federation operation against the 2nd Desert Army Group. The Desert Army's goal is to capture both the Suez Canal and control the traffic through it and the oilfields in the Middle East to feed its war machine. During the first round of Earth Drop operations the Middle East was supposed to be the first territory taken by the Empire, on account the Galactic Prussian Empire consisted of one whole colony Side at the time. But the Federation put up a fierce resistance and drove the Empire out before it could take foot, so it changed its target to Odessa, which it took with ease after another Earth Drop Operation Still in need of the oilfields, the Empire decided to try the long way to the Middle East through North Africa.

"The goal hear is to. . ." I droned out his voice and looked over the map he was explaining: The 2nd Desert Army group his split in two halves, the 15th Mobile Suit Army in the north and the 51stPanzer Army in the south. On our side the 8th Army covers the entire front line north to south with only a few thousand yards between us and them

From what I could see on the map, on October 24 the 8th is going to attack the 2nd Desert Group head on: the Seventh Crops and the 11th Infantry Division will attack the larger 15th Panzer Army and the Ninth Armored Corps will attack the 51st Mobile Suit Army, which makes sense because the Ninth Armored Corps has my unit, the only mobile suit unit.

"Lieutenant Colonel."

"Yes sir?"

"The 51st Mobile Suit Army is largely made up of old Leo's and Leopard II tanks according to Intel, some that are unable to be fought against in mobile suits. Are your men able to fight on foot or in tanks if it is necessary in tanks?"

"Yes sir, all members of the Mobile Assault Force are cross trained in mobile suit, infantry and armored warfare to the breaking point."

"Excellent! Lieutenant Colonel, your unit is going to kick in the front door for us in the south. You will be the spearhead. I'll leave the planning of the attack up to you, your staff and General Townsend. I should tell you that it will be dangerous, but knowing your reputation, I think you can handle it. You can go to your men now."

At least he's honest about the risk involved. I like this guy. I stood up and saluted the Generals again and left the building. Outside I looked for the unit's HQ, found it and walked to it. On the way I spotted several personnel from the unit, and they looked more like killers than solders, armed with age old SA80 assault rifles and Browning Hi-Power pistols. In the distance I noticed mobile suits and tanks. When I came up to the door to HQ. I opened it and entered the warm glow of the wood stove. And a torrent of angry words from Andy.

"This is horse shit Lowe!"

"Really, looks more like cinder block, not horse shit."

"Not in the mood for your smart ass!"

"Come on, that was funny."

The hesitated before continuing, "Ok it was, but get serious! This is a cluster fuck of a unit. The regulars are poorly trained and have shit equipment. Most of the officers are inept and have little to on combat experience. The mobile suits are in disrepair and the tech crews are a joke. And to add frosting to this shit cake, your Executive Officer doesn't like to kill and our combat coordinator isn't old enough to drink!"

"What are you-?"

I stopped when I saw what he was talking about. Standing at what is soon to be my desk was a man about twenty six years old with messy brown hair and brown eyes with the rank of Captain. Next to him was very young woman, about 5'1 with reddish brown hair and light brown eyes. Right then my brain and mouth became connected and words came out in the form of a question to the woman. . .

"How fucking old are you?"